FAQs: The transition to eVisas

The Home Office has been transitioning everyone who has a physical immigration document to an online immigration status, also known as an eVisa.

The transition raises a number of questions for UK employers and for individuals. We set out here some answers to the common questions. 

These FAQs will be updated when the Home Office releases any further information.

Please note that the questions and answers on this page are for general information only and must not be used as a substitute for legal advice. You should always take legal advice which is tailored to your specific circumstances. Contact a member of the immigration team for more information.

Why is the Home Office transitioning from physical visa documents to eVisas?

Many people in the UK have had a physical visa document. This was often a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or a visa/sticker/stamp in their passport. Since 1 November 2024 BRPs have not been issued. The Home Office is transitioning to a fully digital system where everyone has an online immigration status, also known as an eVisa. 

This is a huge undertaking as there are millions of people in the UK who have needed to transition to eVisas.

For a few years now there has been a wider Home Office strategy for an end-to-end “digital by design” immigration system. The transition to eVisas is one part of that strategy. Other parts of the strategy include for example more people using eGates and making online visa applications without the need to attend in-person appointments. 

 

 What is an eVisa?

An eVisa is an online record of someone’s UK visa status. Rather than having any kind of physical document, an eVisa holder has access to an online account where they can view and share their immigration status. The eVisa is linked to the holder’s passport.

 

How do I use an eVisa?

Once you have an eVisa you will be able to sign into your online account and use UK Visas & Immigration’s (UKVI) View and Prove service to share your immigration status with employers, landlords, banks, universities and others.

As the eVisa will be linked to your passport, Border Force officers should be able to see your UK visa details when you enter the UK.

Airlines and other carriers should be able to check if you have an eVisa directly with UKVI through the passport details included in the Advance Passenger Information which you have to provide before you check in. 

Expired BRPs can no longer be used to travel to the UK. You will need an eVisa to demonstrate your permission to travel to the UK. Before travelling internationally you should set up access to your eVisa by creating a UKVI account (see section 4 below) and ensure your eVisa details are up to date

 

How do I create a UKVI account and get an eVisa?

You may have a visa valid beyond 31 December 2024 but your BRP expired on that date.  If you have recently been granted a visa after attending a biometric appointment you will not have a BRP.  In either case you will need to create a UKVI account to get an eVisa.  

Creating a UKVI account is free and usually straightforward.  If you have a BRP which expired on 31 December 2024, you recently applied outside the UK for a long-term visa and have received a 90-day visa sticker in your passport, or you recently applied outside the UK for a work (including Skilled Worker) or study visa you need to create the account as soon as possible. If you applied outside the UK for a work or study visa you should create the account before travelling to the UK.

You will need:

• Your passport
• The 16-digit unique application number (UAN) for your most recent visa application or the GWF number for your most recent visa application or your expired BRP number
• A smartphone

 There are 3 steps:

1. Create your UKVI account.  You need to register here for a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. You will need to enter your passport number, name, nationality, mobile number and email address. If you are registering an account for a child, you can use your own mobile number and email address.
    
2. Confirm your identity.  You will then need to download the UK Immigration: ID check app on to your smartphone. To connect to the app you have to scan a QR code or request a connection code before following the instructions to scan your passport. Make sure the NFC function is enabled on your phone. You will also need to scan your face and then take a selfie (against a white background) using the app.  You may need to keep trying before the selfie works.
    
3. Link your eVisa to your account.  You will need to fill in a short form and click “Confirm and submit.” You will receive an email when your eVisa details are ready to see in your UKVI account. It usually takes a few minutes to receive the email but it can take several hours. Sometimes it takes several days or longer.

UKVI has released a video on how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.  

Once I have created my UKVI account, what should I do with my BRP?

If you have a BRP and have created a UKVI account, the Home Office guidance confirms you should “Keep your expired BRP card as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK. You may also want it for your personal records.”  This is a departure from previous Home Office guidance which asked you to return previous BRPs to the Home Office.

 

I have created a UKVI account.  Why can’t I see my eVisa?

It is commonly the case that on creating the UKVI account, the eVisa cannot be seen.  This is because there is sometimes a delay of a few days (occasionally longer) before the eVisa details are loaded into the account.  You will have to wait until the eVisa details are visible.  The Home Office will email you once the eVisa is available to view.

 

 

I am having technical difficulties with creating and using my UKVI account.  What can I do?

Unfortunately, people are experiencing a number of different UKVI account technical issues.  For example, this could be in relation to the system not recognising your name (especially if you do not have a first name and surname; if your passport displays your name other than as first name and then surname; or if you have multiple names in the surname field), not recognising your date of birth (if it is incomplete on your passport), or not allowing you to update your identity document from a BRP to a passport.  The eVisa may show incomplete visa details or no details at all.  Or the eVisa may show an incorrect duration or visa conditions. 

Helpfully, the Home Office has created an online eVisa error reporting service.  It says you can use the service if any of your eVisa details are incorrect, such as your name, visa type, visa conditions or expiry date. If you use this service UKVI will contact you in 10 working days to confirm that they’ve corrected the mistake or ask for more information.

There is also an online UKVI account recovery tool for people who don’t have access to the phone number and email address which were used to set up the account.

There may be workarounds for other technical issues but there is a lack of clarity about what to do.  It may be that in time the Home Office systems will improve and more troubleshooting advice will be provided.  In the meantime, the first step to resolve a problem would be to call the UKVI contact centre.

 

I am stuck outside the UK and have a problem with my eVisa.  Is there anything I can do to travel to the UK?

If you are stuck outside the UK, have a problem with your UKVI account/eVisa and don’t have a valid visa in your passport to show the airline, you may have a difficulty travelling to the UK.

If you are a non-visa national who can enter the UK as a visitor without a visa, you should still be able to board the plane and travel to the UK.

Whereas if you are a visa national (on this list) you cannot travel to the UK because you would need a visa to travel and the airline will not let you board.

Home Office guidance says that in this situation you should “consider applying for a temporary visa”, which is the new equivalent of a BRP replacement visa – a single-entry visa which will allow you to come back to the UK.

 

Are there any right to work issues employers should think about?

Employees with eVisas

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals applying outside the UK for a sponsored work (including Skilled Worker) visa and many applicants applying in the UK for a visa receive an eVisa straightaway on approval.  Employers will need a share code from the employee to carry out an online right to work check before the work commences.

Some other people applying outside the UK for a visa valid longer than 6 months will receive a 90-day visa in their passport. Those applying outside the UK for a work (including Skilled Worker) or study visa will not receive a visa in their passport.  As soon as possible they should create a UKVI account so they have an eVisa.  They can then use Prove Your Right to Work to provide the employer with a share code so an online right to work check can be completed before the work commences.  Otherwise, the employer will need to carry out a manual/original document right to work check on the 90-day visa (if there is one) and then a follow up check on the eVisa before the 90-day visa expires.

Employees with BRPs

If an employee’s BRP expired before 31 December 2024 employers did not need to do anything in relation to the transition.

Online right to work checks performed on or after 6 April 2022

It has not been possible to carry out an original document (manual) right to work check on a BRP since 6 April 2022. If a right to work check was carried out on an employee with a BRP on or after that date the only option was an online check. There is no issue in relation to the expiry date of the BRP in this scenario. Even though no BRPs showed an expiry date beyond 31 December 2024 the employer will have a record of the actual visa expiry date through the online check.

Original document (manual) right to work checks performed on BRPs before 6 April 2022

Before 6 April 2022 employers had the choice of whether to do an online right to work check or an original document (manual) check. If an online check was used there is no issue, as above.

If an original document check was carried out on a BRP expiring on 31 December 2024 the employer may not know when the visa itself expires.  Where the employer has carried out such a check and recorded 31 December 2024 as the right to work expiry date, the Home Office guidance for employers says “a follow up check will be required” – an online right to work check – which should have been completed before the end of 2024.  Even if the employer has seen the UKVI approval letter showing the visa end date they may want to carry out an online check because they will not continue to have a statutory excuse beyond 31 December 2024 if they carried out an original document check on the BRP.

If the employee has settlement (indefinite leave to remain), the BRP may also have a 31 December 2024 expiry date but an extra right to work check is not necessary.

 

I have indefinite leave to remain endorsed in my passport.  Do I need to do anything?

Some people may have indefinite leave to remain or indefinite leave to enter endorsed in their passport and do not have a BRP.

The Home Office eVisas guidance says you should submit a No Time Limit (NTL) application.  As part of the application process you will need to create a UKVI account and so once the application has been approved you will receive an eVisa.  

 

Are there any other issues with the transition to eVisas?

Yes. The transition of millions of people from physical documents to eVisas is a huge undertaking and issues can be expected. Many different parties such as employers, landlords, banks, universities and airlines need to get used to the digital-only system.

Some people will not like having a digital-only immigration status. From when EU citizens have been receiving eVisas from the EU Settlement Scheme, some issues have materialised, particularly for more vulnerable people and the non-tech savvy. 

There are also unanswered troubling questions about UKVI accounts.  For example, will anyone who has created multiple UKVI accounts have any issues in the future – such as when applying for indefinite leave to remain?  And will UKVI accounts be updated to include the person’s history of UK visas, rather than only their current visa details.

 

Is there any Home Office guidance on the transition to digital-only immigration status?

The Home Office has a webpage on eVisas with guidance and information.  

 

How can we stay up to date on developments on the transition to eVisas?

These FAQs will also be updated when any new information and guidance are released. 

You can also sign up to receive alerts when the Home Office webpage on eVisas is updated by clicking “Get emails about this page” at the top or bottom of the page.

 

Further information

If you have any questions regarding the FAQs, please contact Kim Vowden or another member of the Immigration team. 

 

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